Lesson 7: Sexual Self

Sexuality is one of the ways that we become enlightened, actually,

because it leads us to self-knowledge.
-Alice Walker

Overview

Self-exploration and discovery entails understanding the

biological factors of sexual behaviors and characteristics as well
reproductive system, the system of sex organs for reproduction
and sexual function. Having a good grasp of these concepts
allows an individual to understand their sexuality and sexual
relationships.
A discussion about sexual self is important especially during
adolescence when people during this stage starts to date and be
involved in romantic relationships. Through this kind of
relationship, sexual behaviors are learned and developed. When
not guided properly, these sexual behaviors may result to early
pregnancy and being diagnosed with sexually transmitted
diseases.
In this lesson, you will be provided with discussions and
activities which will assist you in learning the sexual self.
Specifically, this lesson will cover human reproductive system,
sexual response, sexual behavior, sexual disorders, gender,
sexual orientation, sexually transmitted infections, early
pregnancy, and love.

Specific Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students are expected to:

1. Discuss the human sexual development involving human

reproductive system, sexual response, sexual behavior
 and sexual disorder. Explain culture and the mechanisms
of enculturation
2. Explain sexual orientation
3. Determine the factors and consequences of sexually
transmitted diseases and early pregnancy
4. Explain the importance of contraception and Reproductive
Health Law
5. Understand love and romantic relationships

Abstraction

Sexual self is an aspect of the self where we learn and

understand about sexual development. It involves concepts like
sexual health, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender
expression.
Adolescence is the stage when sexual development starts.
Various changes are highlighted such as sex hormones,
undergoing physical changes (developing of the secondary sex
characteristics), and producing feelings that are sexual in nature.
In our society, topics like sex and sexual development are
usually discussed in private as it is deemed as a taboo subject.
Because of this, developing teenagers/adolescents are confused,
misinformed and misdirected in dealing with sexual feelings and
considering normal and inappropriate sexual behaviors and
responses.

THE HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

The Gonads are otherwise known as the reproductive
glands.

FEMALE MALE
GONADS Ovaries Testis
REPRODUCTIVE Egg cells Sperm cells
CELLS
 HORMONES Estrogen and Androgen and
Progesterone Testosterone
ACTIVATION OF Menarche (marks Nocturnal
THE the onset of the Emission
REPRODUCTIVE menstrual cycle)
GLAND
END OF THE Menopause -none-
REPRODUCTIVE
GLAND
FUNCTION

Primary sex characteristics refers to physical characteristics

present at birth. This include female physical characteristics like
uterus, vagina, and ovaries as well as male physical
characteristics like penis and testes.

Secondary sex characteristics are the physical changes that

happens during the onset of puberty. For females, these
characteristics include enlargement of breast, start of
menstruation, and widening of hips. For males, testicular
growth. Appearance of pubic hair, deepening of voice are
characteristics.

Sexual Arousal, Sexual Behavior and Erogenous

Zones: What Turns People On

Human sexual arousal entails the state of sexual desire during

or in anticipation of sexual activity. Men and women experience
of sexual arousal very differently, not only physiologically but
psychologically (Benson, 2003). It is complex and maybe
produced by direct stimulation of body’s erogenous zones, areas
of the body which are highly sensitive and produce sexual
responses when stimulated (Go-Montilla & Ramirez, 2018).
These areas include the genitals, mouth, breasts, and anus.
Any activity- solitary, between two persons, or in a group--- that
induces sexual arousal refers to human sexual behavior. This
also entails a spectrum of behaviors in which humans display
their sexuality.  This are behavioral expressions which contain
both biological elements and cultural influences. There are two
major factors that determine human sexual behavior:
1. As a means of enduring reproduction.
2. The degree of restraint or other types of influence exerted
on the individual by society in the expression of his/her
sexuality.
Sexual behavior ranges from the solitary (such as masturbation
and autoerotic stimulation) to partnered sex (kissing, cuddling,
intercourse, oral sex, non-penetrative sex, etc.) that is engaged
in periodically. Sexual behavior can also involve behavior that is
aimed at arousing desire in potential partners (courtship displays
or rituals) or behavior aimed at enhancing sexual experiences
(foreplay, BDSM).

This types include:

1. Solitary Behavior (involving only one individual).

Self-gratification means self-stimulation that leads
to sexual arousal and generally, sexual climax. The
frequency greatly varies among individuals and it
usually decreases as soon as they develop
sociosexual relationships.
2. Sociosexual behavior (is generally divided into
heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior). There
are varying degree of sexual responses and
responsiveness. Physical contact involving necking and
petting are considered as an ingredient of learning how to
interact with another person sexually.
However, there are individuals in which their expression and
behavior involves unusual and socially unacceptable sexual
practice. This pattern of recurring sexually arousing mental
imagery which involves social unacceptable sexual behaviors and
activities are termed as paraphilia. Below are examples of
paraphilia:
a. Voyeurism: watching an unsuspecting/non-
consenting individual who is either nude, disrobing,
or engaging in sexual activity
b. Exhibitionism: exposing one’s own genitals to an
unsuspecting person
c. Frotteurism: touching or rubbing against a non-
consenting person
d. Sexual masochism: being humiliated, beaten,
bound, or otherwise suffering
e. Sexual sadism: the physical or emotional suffering
of another person
f. Pedophilia: sexual activity with a child that is
prepubescent (usually 13 years old or younger)
g. Fetishism: sexual fascination with nonliving
objects or highly specific body parts (partialism).
Phases of Sexual Responses
The male and female biological responses to sexual stimulation
are observed to be similar. The changes that occur in the body
as men and women are sexually aroused are termed as sexual-
response cycle. This cycle follows four (4) phases namely;
excitement, plateau, orgasmic, and resolution phase.
1. Excitement Phase- Sexual urges occurs in response to
sexual cues or fantasies. A subjective sense of sexual
pleasure and physiological signs of sexual arousal: in
males, penile tumescence (increased flow of blood into
the penis); in females, vasocongestion (blood pools in
the pelvic area) leading to vaginal lubrication and
breast tumescence (erect nipples)
2. Plateau Phase- Brief period occurs before orgasm
 3. Orgasm Phase- In males: feeling of inevitability of
ejaculation, followed by ejaculation; in females:
contraction of the walls of the lower third of the vagina.
4. Resolution- Decrease in arousal after orgasm
(particularly in men).

Gender Talk
Gender identity and expression is not the same as sexual
orientation and vice versa.
Gender identity- personal sense of one’s own gender. This can
correlate or differ from the assigned sex at birth.
Gender expression- physical manifestation of one’s gender
identity.
Gender orientation- how one thinks of oneself in terms of to
whom one is romantically or sexually attracted.

Some Sexual Orientation Labels

 Aromantic - experiencing little or no romantic attraction
to others and/or has a lack of interest in romantic
relationships/behavior. 
 Asexual- experiencing little or no sexual attraction to
others and/or a lack of interest in sexual
relationships/behavior. 
 Autosexual- someone who prefers to have sex with
themselves over having sex with others.
 Bisexual - a person who experiences sexual attraction to
both men and women.
 Biromantic- people who feel romantic attraction to both
men and women
 Cisgender- when someone identify with the gender they
were assigned at birth.
  Demisexual- people who are not able to feel sexual
connection with someone until they feel a romantic
connection with them
 Homosexual- a person who experiences sexual attraction
to same sex.
 Lesbian- females attracted to females
 Gays- Males attracted to males
 Heterosexual- a person who is only attracted to the
opposite sex, known as being straight
 Pansexual- a person who is attracted to any sexual
orientation or gender identity
 Transgender- when someone identify with a gender
different than that they were assigned at birth
 Transexual- when someone have had Gender
Reassignment Surgery (GRS) to change the sexual organs
you were born with to that of a different gender

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Early Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy defined as a teenage girl, usually within

the ages of 13-19, becoming pregnant. The term in everyday
speech usually refers to girls who have not reached legal
adulthood, which varies across the world, who become pregnant

Factors that contribute to Early Sexual Involvement

(POPCOM)

Desire to be “in” or “cool”

Exploration
Social and peer pressure
Inadequate knowledge
Romantism
Escape from problems, parents and/or troubled family

Moreover, sexually transmitted infections are contracted

primarily through sexual contacts (vaginal, oral, or anal sex)
(Go-Montilla & Ramirez, 2018). The following are STIs are
examples of STIs:
1. HIV and AIDS
2. Chlamydia
 3. Gonorrhea
4. Syphilis
5. Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
6. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

Activity
Information is Power. You will choose two STIs and research
about them. You will make an outline of the general areas of
information that people need to know to protect themselves
from the chosen STIs. These areas are:

 Transmission: How does the STI pass from one person

to another?

 Symptoms: How can people tell if they have the STI?

 Treatment: How is the STI is treated? Is it curable? What

happens if it goes untreated?

 Prevention: How can someone prevent getting the STI?

 Responsibility: What should people do if they find out

they have an STI?

Sample format
A. HIV/AIDs
Transmission:
______________________________________

Symptoms:
________________________________________

Treatment:
________________________________________

Prevention:
________________________________________

Responsibility:
______________________________________
Assessment
Passionate Love Scale. Think of the person you love most
passionately right now, and answer the items in the Passionate
Love Scale as truthfully as possible. If you are not in love right
now, think of the last person you loved passionately. Write a
300-word reflection about the results of the test.

References
Alata, E. P., Caslib, B., Serafica, J., Pawilen, R. A. (2018).
Understanding the self (1st ed.). Sampaloc, Manila: Rex
Book Store, Inc.
Benson, E. (2003). The science of sexual arousal. Retrieved from
https://www.apa.org/monitor/apr03/arousal

Genderbread Person. (n.d). Retrieved from

https://ayr1as72agcddsn3cyd41uu9-wpengine.netdna-
ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Genderbread-Person-
1.pdf

Go-Montilla, M., Ramirez, N. (2018). Understanding the self.

Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc.
Motofei, I. & Rowland, D. (2005). The physiological basis of
human sexual arousal: neuroendocrine sexual asymmetry.
International Journal of Andrology. 28 (2). 78-87.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2605.2004.00514.x

Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention. (n.d).

Retrieved from http://recapp.etr.org/Recapp/Index.Cfm?
fuseaction=pages.LearningActivitiesDetail&PageID=133

Villafuerte, S. L., Quillope, A. F., Tunac, R. C., Borja, E. I.

(2018). Understanding the self. Quezon City, Philippines:
Nieme Publishing House Co. Ltd.